The INSIDER Summary:

From Starbucks to Chipotle, most of your favorite restaurants have a secret menu.

It may feel like fun to order these menu items, but it's actually a huge hassle.

Secret menu items can be difficult for employees because they may not know exactly how to make it.

Secret menu items are likely to hold up the lines, and frustrate other customers.

Secret menus for your favorite chains have been circulating for years. It's fun to change up your order and feel like you're getting something that's, well, a secret. But what you may not know is that these creative items are (typically) insanely difficult and time-consuming to make.

What is a secret menu?

A secret menu is exactly what it sounds like. It's a special menu that contains creatively mixed and matched ingredients, which make up brand new items. At times, secret menu items can become popular enough to make it to the regular menu.

If you've heard about the infamous pink drinkfrom Starbucks, then you may already know that it began as a secret menu item. However, the drink became so popular that it has now become a regular menu item.McDonald's,Panera,Chipotle, andTaco Bellare a few of the more popular places with secret menus, but it's likely to find a secret menu at practically any restaurant, coffee shop, or fast food chain.

But they're an inconvenience to employees

When ordering from a secret menu, it's especially important to realize that this is ahugehassle for employees.

1. The employee may not know what the secret item is or how to make it.

Not only is this an inconvenience for you, because you'll likely have a long wait, but it's incredibly difficult for the employee to make the item without having prior knowledge about it.

2. Lineswillget backed up.

This puts more stress on employees because now the line is probably out the door, just because someoneneededtheir special item, specially made.

3. The order is going to take longer to ring upand make.Again, this is an inconvenience for both the employee and yourself. Not only is this taking an incredibly long time to take your order, it's going to take even longer to make your order, I promise.

But I decide not to put the employees through hell again, and I stick with my normal iced chai.

Please, stop the madness

The Chicken McGriddle at McDonald's.
Hollis Johnson

Overall, secret menus, although they are fun and innovative, are truly just inconvenient for everyone. Please, next time you're at Starbucks, Chipotle, or McDonald's, think about the employees taking your order and the people waiting in line behind you.